Costa Rica, Cent. Amer.
San Hose, Febr. 19/1902.
Dear Psyche:
Well here we are in the capital city of this southmost of North America republics. Our journey across the gulf of Mexico and Carribean [sic] sea was a delightful as well as rapid one. We left New Orleans on last Friday just after noon and landed in Port Limon this morning (Wednesday) at about 7 o'clock. By hurrying about real lively we got through the custom's house and took the 9 o'clock train for this place where we arrived at half after 4. The distance is about 103 miles through tropical jungle and mountains of great picturesqueness. The entire trip from the coast is like a hurried trip through an immense green house in which has been crowded great quantities of the most diverse species of plants such as are to be found in tropical countries. Nature not being satisfied with the success that was reached by occupying every inch of ground, surface and crevice among the rocks and trunks of fallen monarchs of the forest, has gone father and occupied the trunks and

branches of nearly every growing tree, small and great. Each and every one of these is a veritable garden in itself so deftly arranged and intermingled are the hosts of our plants that find lodgement [sic] here. Some single giant trees if carefully studied from the ground to the topmost twig would yield almost as many distinct kinds of plants as could be collected on 3 or 4 sections of Nebraska woodland. Then too the great contrast in colors that these multitude of plants show is truly astonishing. An attempt to describe the meddly [sic] would be useless at this time. Perhaps a later effort will be made towards such an end.

Was I seasick? Yes, a little for two days; but the water was the smoothest that I ever experienced on any voyage and the boat perhaps one of the best. There were only a few passengers — 10 in number, but very pleasant, so the journey was all that one could have desired. On the journey 3 steamers were met, several islands of great beauty passed and a number of species of birds and fishes seen.

The people of Costa Rica are different in a number of respects

from those of other Spanish American countries that I have had the pleasure of visiting. There are many more English speaking persons here than is usual, and a large percentage of the laboring class are Jamaica "[redacted]" who speak a sort of "pigeon" English — sometimes developed into a very broad Irish brogue. 

Up to the present time we have done but little in the way of collecting specimens, but we have been just as busy as possible looking at things so that we will be better prepared to go to work by "mañana" or "pasada mañana" after meeting the American Minister, American consul and two or three other persons from whom we expect to obtain information of value to us in our work. Then too we want to go to the Museo Nacional where we can see some of the curios as found in different parts of the Republic. By doing this we can decide better where to go and what to look for.

The money of the country is silver, paper and gold. The paper and silver is worth less than half as much as ours. So far we have been able to buy $2.15 for one of our dollars. Will try to bring some of each denomination along home.

I am feeling very well now and seem to get along with my eating very nicely. Have not run across any of the garlic and onion mixtures that are liable to turn up at any place and meal.

Tell mamma that I will try and write to her in a few days when I will tell her more about myself and the boys.

When you write let me know all about matters at home, at Kents and at the University. Hope that none of the others of Kents have come down with the smallpox, and that all of you have escaped.

Have to close now, so good night. With love to all, I am your affectionate papa.
Lawrence Bruner.